ASCD Introduces New Conference App, Offers Support for First-Time Attendees

Attendees at ASCD's 2013 Annual Conference and Exhibit Show, held March 16–18, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill., will be able to improve their conference and professional development experience by downloading a new ASCD app that puts important conference information at their fingertips.

The MyASCD13 app, created by GenieMobile for ASCD, allows users to search the entire catalog of conference sessions and events and receive up-to-the-minute notifications on-site. Available for iPhone, Android, and other Internet-enabled phones and mobile devices, this app enables users to customize a personal agenda, access exhibitor listings, look at the floor plan and convention map, and even check out speaker listings. Attendees are encouraged to download the new MyASCD13 app beginning March 6 on their mobile device of choice by visiting www.ascd.org/ascd13app.

"One of ASCD’s main priorities is to leverage the latest technology to improve the professional development of educators,” said ASCD Executive Director and CEO Dr. Gene R. Carter. “We are pleased to put this new resource into the hands of attendees and will continue to make each Annual Conference experience as dynamic as possible."

ASCD's 2013 Annual Conference and Exhibit Show features more than 400 sessions on the most important topics in education today. Built on the theme, "Learning: Our Story. Our Time. Our Future.," the Annual Conference will inform, engage, help, and challenge educators from across the globe to better support student success.

In addition to providing the app, ASCD has asked veteran conference attendees to provide advice to those educators attending an ASCD Annual Conference for the first time. Among the top pieces of advice were

• "Following the Twitter hashtag (#ASCD13) for the conference will let you find out what attendees are learning in other sessions and will link you to resources for presentations you're not able to attend. And because you get to meet people face-to-face at the Tweet Up, you can have some great in-person discussions too."
  Angela Watson, @angela_watson
  Education consultant; has attended five ASCD conferences

• "Go to sessions outside of your comfort zone that will stretch your thinking and broaden your horizons. Also, bring your walking shoes."
  Josh Stumpenhorst, @stumpteacher
  6th grade teacher; has attended one ASCD conference

• "I attended my first ASCD conference in 2008 in Anaheim, Calif., pre–social media in education. Without Twitter, my conference learning experience was limited to only the sessions I physically attended. Now attending ASCD each year as a connected educator, social media tools allow me to maximize my learning and that of my organization as I have access to hundreds of sessions with interactive and personalized PD from a global personal learning network (PLN). See you at #ASCD13."
  Joe Mazza, @Joe_Mazza
  Lead learner at Knapp Elementary; has attended four ASCD conferences

• "Follow your interests—don't worry if you miss out on 'big'-name presentations."
  Tara Richerson, @science_goddess
  Technology standards program manager; has attended three ASCD conferences

• "First, bring comfortable shoes and drink plenty of water. You will walk a lot and want to take care of yourself. Then, when planning which sessions you will attend, try to go to the ones outside of your area. That way when you go back, you have lots of great information to share with as many people as possible. And lastly, take time each day to reflect on your day. Write, blog, tweet, capture your thoughts somehow, some way so that you can organize them further, later."
  Steven Anderson, @web20classroom
  Director of instructional technology; has attended four ASCD conferences

To further aid first-time attendees, ASCD is offering a First Timers' Session on Friday, March 15, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 16, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. central time. Hosted by ASCD Membership Director Bonnie Kasander, the First Timers’ Session will help attendees make the most of their conference experience.

ASCD encourages conference attendees to round out their conference experiences with personal networking. On Friday night, March 15, attendees should plan to attend the 2013 Welcome Reception in the Skyline Ballroom Foyer located in McCormick Place West from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. central time. On Saturday evening, March 16, the association will host its second annual ASCD Tweet Up, sponsored by Herff Jones Nystrom. Located at the Chicago staple Buddy Guy's Legends from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. central time, this event brings together educators both new to and experienced with social media for professional development. The official Twitter hashtag of ASCD's 2013 Annual Conference is #ASCD13.

To preview the event lineup or to register, visit the Annual Conference and Exhibit Show website. To learn more about ASCD and the benefits associated with becoming an ASCD member, visit www.ascd.org.